No image available
/ 31 January 2005
Three collapsed banks reopened on Monday in Zimbabwe under the aegis of a new umbrella banking group that President Robert Mugabe’s government hopes will revive the ailing financial sector. Clients whose money was locked up in the Royal, Barbican and Trust banks queued up from morning nationwide to withdraw their funds.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
Former Scorpion Gerda Ferreira told the Durban High Court how the Scorpions managed a simultaneous search and seizure operation for documents relating to South Africa’s multimillion-rand arms deal in South Africa, Mauritius and France.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
Two United States children’s animated characters, Buster the rabbit and SpongeBob SquarePants, have whipped up a storm, with conservative Christians and the new US education secretary scrutinising pro-gay associations in viewing for young children. ”Many parents would not want their young children exposed to [these] lifestyles,” Spellings said.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
A dog in north-eastern Croatia was being hailed as a hero on Monday after it reportedly raised the alarm to rescue a man who had been buried under a snow drift during a blizzard. The dog barked until his owner followed him to the place where 54-year-old Stjepan Peserlin lay unconscious beneath a pile of snow.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
An Iraqi militant organisation on Monday claimed it had shot down an RAF Hercules transport plane in Iraq, killing up to 15 British service personnel. A statement posted on an Islamic website by Ansar al-Islam said its fighters had tracked the aircraft, ”which was flying at a low altitude, and fired an anti-tank missile at it”.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
Gold Fields will continue to oppose Harmony’s hostile offer, the mining company said on Monday. ”This deal is far from over, not only has the fat lady not sung, she is nowhere near sight,” Gold Fields chief executive Ian Cockerill said at the release of the company’s December 2004 quarterly results in Johannesburg.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
South African exports rose by 7% in rand terms and 25,7% in dollar terms in 2004, as the strong rand failed to dent export growth due to strong demand from China and high commodity prices. Exporters are reporting buoyant demand, which is sadly constrained by bottlenecks on the railways and harbours, not by the strong rand.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
Anthrax has killed nearly 20 hippos in a sprawling reserve in southwest Uganda in the past two weeks amid fears of a new outbreak of the deadly disease, which claimed the lives of at least 200 of the animals last year. Anthrax occurs when animals eat remnants of vegetation in the dry months of September and October, absorbing bacterial spores that can live for decades in dry soil.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
Malawi’s ruling party said on Monday it has decided against expelling President Bingu wa Mutharika from its ranks despite a bitter power struggle with his predecessor. Following a day-long meeting on Sunday, the governing United Democratic Front said it is ready to continue talks with Mutharika to try to bury the hatchet.
No image available
/ 31 January 2005
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) thinks Deputy President Jacob Zuma should be the next president of the country, the organisation said on Monday. ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula said the league is satisfied that Zuma should succeed President Thabo Mbeki.